Due to the rarity, these chairs are priced at OFFERS OVER $580 per CHAIR. Final price will also be determined on whether or not the buyer purchases the matching dining table. We would prefer to sell the table and 6 matching chairs together. Table price is $940.

I’ve written these descriptions for 25 years- this is the first time I’ve ever questioned how I would tell the story about the furniture I’ve been chosen to represent. In the end, I decided I should be able to assert some creative control in this domain, even though life is no longer as simple as it used to be. When you invest in furniture like this, it is often overlooked that the story of the people passing the items onto the next custodian is just as much part of the story as those who designed and constructed the items. The current owners of this dining suite purchased this suite new. They had migrated to Australia in the early-1980’s and purchased their new Catt dining suite after working hard and saving up the money for the suite over years. In the early-1980’s, the option of buying cheap disposable furniture from China was gaining traction, but the couple were proud and grateful of their adopted country- there was no question they would support the Australian economy. They scouted the furniture stores of Melbourne, their new home to find the dining suite that most resonated with them.

They settled on this CATT dining suite made in Canningvale, Western Australia. Catt Furniture (Charles Catt & Son) was founded in Western Australia in the mid-1960s by the father-and-son duo Charles Catt (an English cabinet maker) and his son Roy Catt (who was responsible for the designs) after emigrating from the United Kingdom to Perth. The table and chair bases were shaped out of Western Australian Jarrah- the seat shells were produced from fibreglass, taking the swan-chair design concept of the 1950’s to new heights.

The vendors of this suite proudly told me how they’d found the best of the best at that time- this suite was everything they were looking for and more. Interesting, stylish, COMFORTABLE, durable, earthy and practical- swivel chairs that weren’t overpowering in looks. They could have opted for the standard velvet upholstered seats that Catt offered- virtually everyone did at the time- the velvet variety were significantly cheaper because working with thick leather over all these curves required specialised equipment and expert artisans. The couple were planning to have a child and they valued the longevity FULL-GRAIN leather would provide so they selected the PREMIUM option available- semi-aniline leather. The leather variety made these some of the most expensive dining chairs available in Australia at the time, possibly the most expensive. They were probably not aware at the time just how good this leather really was and how long their dining suite would endure- the leather produced in Australia around this time by HOWE leather is now regarded as some of the best made in the world past or present. Over the last 45 years, these chairs have had consistent use- just look at them- incredible doesn’t quite cut it! BUT it becomes easier to comprehend when you consider that this furniture was pretty-much part of the vendor’s family, it was extension of the pride they held for their new heritage and represented more to them than just something to eat dinner at. The suite has only become more valued, respected and loved over the years and with each passing year it has been well looked-after, as you’d expect. After 25 years in this line of work, I can confidently say that for a dining suite that has seen regular use, this is one of the best looked-after vintage dining suites I have ever encountered. This is why I felt compelled to tell some of the story of the family you’d be inheriting this suite from- when you hear about its history, it becomes plain to understand the reasons WHY this furniture has been so respected and cared for.

This is the first time I’ve ever encountered these Catt dining chairs in leather- this puts them in an entirely different league compared to other Catt chairs I’ve sold in the past. As already touched on, this VINTAGE HOWE leather is thick and hardy- no expense with regards to the time, effort or cost has been spared during the production and tanning process of this leather. If Catt chairs were recently re-upholstered in new leather, it’d cost at least $700 PER chair to re-upholster them but the result wouldn’t be half of what these are. Vintage and new leather doesn’t compare- there’d also be the question of how long a new leather will endure over these curves and to top it off, these are vintage chairs- a new leather could look jarring and “wrong”- the character that quality vintage leather develops over use and time is a significant part of the attraction of what’s on offer here. It’s obvious this is a vintage suite, the quality is exceptional and that this has been a much loved and valued suite.

This Catt furniture is part of the President suite, designed in the mid-1970’s. This would be one of the most comfortable dining chairs I’ve ever sat on. I could easily use one as a desk chair for the rest of my life! The curves, angles and the height of the back are all spot-on, but to top it off the cushioning is soft and spongy- these chairs all swivel too.

The construction is also extremely durable. They’re about 40 years old and I can’t see any reason why they won’t look like this after another 40 years. The bases are solid Jarrah with an internal steel support and the internal construction under the upholstery is also amazing. The seat-shape has been created from metal and fibreglass. If these chairs were re-made to the exact standard of this set (especially with leather upholstery) and put on the floor of Space Furniture today they would fetch about $3,000 per chair.

Catt Furniture has many entries in the State Library of Western Australia. This highly-coveted furniture brand attracted much success in their day and deservedly so. This design helped Catt Furniture win the coveted Good Design Award in 1976 (beating out competition from Sydney and Melbourne). State Library photos show carpenters making the table that goes with this chair design. (We have the matching extension table also available and are hoping to sell it with the chairs). There are many archived photos that showcase their designs but it’s the photos of their workshop that captivate me. Every photo shows PEOPLE making Catt Furniture BY HAND with pride (yes, real people making something, can you believe?). While sitting on one of these chairs today its humbling to think about the talent, creativity and determination that went into making this furniture come into being all those years ago. These chairs were at the absolute pinnacle in their day- they were stocked by Grace Brothers in the 1970’s. I did a little digging- they were priced at over $1,536 for the set of 6 back in 1977 IN VELVET. I have never come across the leather ones before but would expect that the 6 would have cost around $1,800 each back in 1977.  With inflation this means this set is valued at about AU $12,733 in today’s values (but you can’t buy anything like this anymore so they’d actually be worth more).

So you’re investment appeal in the future is ensured- you’d be hard pressed to find something with this level of appeal and character ever again.

Above all these chairs are an investment in the future of our environment- furniture made predominantly by hand that has stood the test of time is one of the best ways we can reduce landfill and your carbon footprint.

And there’s one last thing I have to add before I finish off this ridiculously looooong description, this family is probably the kindest and friendliest families I’ve ever met- compassionate too. I have now represented furniture items from about 150 vendors and photographed these items in their homes- from the time I first spoke to their daughter who organised me to represent their suite, to being dropped off at the public transport hub at their local shopping centre after I’d worked with the suite, the hospitality and kindness extended to me has made me remember how life used to be- where random meetings with people would bring new inspiration and connection to your life’s path in a way you could never imagine. Thanks to Victoria, Angel and George for trusting me to represent your family heirloom.